Electric switch.



No. 816,100. PATBNTED MAR. 27, 1906. M. H. JOHNSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. y APPLIGATION FILED APR zo. 190s.

WITNEJaEQS M 9m 'UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEErOEC Specification of LettersIPatent.

Patented March 2'?, 1906.

Application filed April 20, 1903. Serial No, 153,46 7.

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that l, MONTGOMERY H. JOHN- sON, of Utica, in the county ofOneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in. Electric Switches, and l do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap'pertains tomake and. use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which formpart of this specification.

rlhe object of my invention is to provide an electric switch which issimple in its construction, capable of being economically produced andcapable of carrying the maximum amount of current on a minimum size ofmetal parts, and in which an operating mechanism is provided. affordinga powerful leverage for opening and closing the switch.

ln the drawings, Figure l shows a side elevation of a switch embodyingthe features of my invention. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same. Fig.3 shows a section taken on line A B of Fig. 1, except as to thelaminated contact-posts, which are separated between the layers. Fig. 4shows a section taken on line C D of Fig. l, together with the parts tothe right of the section-line shown in elevation. Fig. 5 shows detailsof the construction pertaining more particularly to the switch openingand closing mechanism.

Referring to the reference-figures in a more particular description, lindicates the switchbase, which is preferably of insulating material.The switch, as shown, is a double or two-line switch, and in thisinstance there is mounted on the base l contact-posts 2 2 and 3 3. Thesevposts consist of V-shaped or grooved thin Vplates or laminas secured inJost bases 2tL and 3a, respectively. The layers or laminae ofthe postwhere they engage with the switch-blade are not secured together andform a post that is somewhat yielding or compressible, but at the lowerend the layers of the post may be secured in the post-bases by means ofsolder and what is known as the sweating-in process or by riveting or byan other suitable means which will secure them in the base and afford agood electrical connection. ln order to permit the switchblades to morereadily move into engagement therewith without injuring the laminzethereof, the top of the posts 3 are beveled, as shown. The switch-blades4L 4 consist of two parallelparts. The innerfaces of these parts areadapted to engage the posts 2 and3, and particularly on the edges of thelaminas, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. One end of the switch-blade ispivoted by providing the spring-arms 5, secured to the sides of thepost-base 2a, and carrying at their upper ends pivot projections 6,which engage in indentations on the outer sides of the switch-bladeparts and are located opposite the vpost at the pivotal end of theblades. The spring parts 5 serve to press the pivotal end of the bladesagainst the edges of the laminas of the post, forming a most perfectelectrical joint capable of carrying a maximum amount of current for thesizes of the pieces of material employed. The pivot projection 6 willpreferably not extend entirely through the ends of the blades, wherebyno part of the blade at this point is cut out and the maximum amount ofcontact-surface is secured.

The swinging ends of the blades et l are connected to a yoke 7 ofinsulating material, and the swinging end of the blades somewhat backfrom the actual end are adapted to engage with the edges of thelaminations of the posts 3. The contact at this point is also of themost perfect kind, and the relation of the blades and post is such thatthe blades engage the post with a considerable binding pressure. Thismakes the switch comparatively hard to operate and makes it advisable toemploy an operating mechanism like that hereinafter described.

For the purpose of making the initial and 'final connections, as betweenthe blade and post in closing and opening the switch at a point or on asurface which willnot engage the body of the post proper, there isprovided spring contact-pieces 8, secured to the side of the post-base 3and having the free contactpoint SiL projecting somewhat beyond the endof the laminated portion of the post and adapted to engage on the outerside of one of the switchblade parts. In opening 'and closing thecircuit any arcing or burning of surfaces will occur between the outerside of the switch-blade and the end of the contact spring or blade Saand not injure the surfaces which make the main contact when the switchis entirely closed. rihe part 8 may be renewed from time to time, and.even the part on the outer side of the blade part which is burned orinjured can be renewed by soldering on or otherwise securing acontact-piece to engage with the spring or blade 8.

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the switch-base, substantially between the posts 3 3, is secured afulcrum-piece 9. This piece projects from the switch-base suflicientlyfor its purpose and is provided at its outer end with slots 9, the outerside of which is formed by the hook-like projection 9b. Theoperating-lever handle 10 is pivoted at 11 on the yoke 7, and theprojecting arm of the lever-handle 10aL is provided at or near its endwith a transverse pin 12, adapted to enter the slot or slots 9a in theend of the fulcrum-piece 9 when the switch is closed. A spring 13 isinterposed between the under side of the lever-handle 10 and the bar 7,and in order to suitably provide for it a socket 14 is preferablyprovided, as shown in Fig. 5.

In opening the switch the operator throws the handle end of the leveroutwardly from the switch-base. In so doing the pin 12 bears upon thefulcrum-piece and affords a leverage for forcing the switch-blades withconsiderable power and withdrawing them from the contact-posts 3. rlherelative arrangement of the parts is such that when the switch-bladeshave become disengaged from the contact-posts 3 the pin 12 will be inposition to pass out of the open end of the slot 9a in thefulcrum-piece, and from this position, which is shown in dotted lines inFig. 5, to the farther-open position the switch is moved without anyleverage being secured. In closing the switch the operator moves thehandle 10 toward the switch-piece. In the first part of the movement thespring 13 is sufficient to overcome the friction on the pivoted ends ofthe switch-blades without yielding; but when the pin 12 enters the openend 9 in the fulcrum-piece the lever-handle then operates as a pry orlever to force the switchblades into their closed position.

IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric switch, a contact-post consisting of a compiled bodyof free laminae folded or bent longitudinally into V shape and securedat one end in a post-base, and presenting on opposite sides of such postplanes of the free edges of the laminaa, and a flat switch-blade mountedto be moved into and out of contact with the post in a sub stantiallylongitudinal manner with reference to the laminas of the post,substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric switch, a contact-post consisting of a compiled bodyof free laminze folded or bent longitudinally into V shape, and securedat one end in a base, and presenting on opposite sides of the postparallel planes of the free edges of the laminae, and a doubleswitch-blade having flat engaging faces adapted to engage on oppositesides of the post and mounted to be moved into and out of contact withthe post in a substantially longitudinal manner with reference to thelamin of the post, substantially, as set forth.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of a contact-post, a doubleswitch-blade engaging the post on each side, springs on opposite sidesof the post secured to the base of the post and pressing the blade partsagainst the sides of the post, and pivot-studs or projections on saidsprings entering openings in the blade, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of a contact-post, aswitch-blade having a plain engaging surface, a spring mounted on thebase and pressing the blade against the side of the post, and a pivotprojection on the spring engaging the blade and supporting the blade forpivotal movement in contact with the post, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in an electric switch of a contact-post consisting offree laminze, a switch-blade adapted to engage the post on the edges ofthe laminae, a spring mounted on the base and operating to press theblade against the post and having a pivot projection engaging the blade,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in an electric switch, having a movable switch-bladeand contactposts, of an operating mechanism consisting of a leverpivoted on the switch-blade, constituting in part an operating-handle, afulcrum-piece secured on the switch-base, having provision forattachable and detachable connection with the lever, and providingfulcrum-bearings for the lever in opening and closing the switch,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in an electric switch of the switch-blade andoperating mechanism, consisting of a lever pivoted on the swinging endof the blade, the outer end of which lever serves as a handle, afulcrumpiece mounted on the base adjacent to the blade, having means forattachable and detachable engagement with the inner end of the lever andproviding fulcrum-bearings for the lever in opening and closing theswitch, and a spring for holding the lever normally in open position,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 18th day of April, 1903.

M. H. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

J. BENJ. BRADY, M. E. ROBINSON IOO IOS

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